Solution-Focused & Narrative Therapy

This blog is part of the series for my reflections on studying different therapy theories. For any citing or quotation, please email nicoyu.w@gmail.com

Postmodern approach, including Solution-Focused and Narrative therapy, stands on the ground that reality is relative, and the truth for each individual is influenced by everything around us — family, friends, society, and cultures. Because of this view, the therapist’s role in the counseling session is more like a curious child, who genuinely want to know more and explore alternative possibilities with the client, instead of acting as the expert who has the answer already.

Even though founded and influenced by Western culture, solution-focused therapy, or solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) has been studied and applied in different cultures. Hsu and Wang (2011) used SFBT with clients in Taiwan with parent-child conflicts due to the concept of filial piety. Filial piety is a fundamental moral guideline that rooted in East Asian cultures. They found that, by exploring past successful exceptions, the young Taiwanese/Chinese adults were able to increase the awareness of reality, the readiness to engage, and the awareness of their limitations. Also, through SFBT, clients are more aware of the gap between their goals and their present situation, leading to the better understanding of their own and their parents’ stances (Hsu & Wang, 2011). At the same time, SFBT emphasizes on finding the solution and the brief treatment sessions, and it works well on the cultures that emphasize on pragmatic, as well as on clients that seek for an immediate coping solution, rather than an in-depth exploration of personality problems.

At the same time, Narrative Therapy has been applied on different social groups, and have many supporting results for treating children and adolescent (Madigan, S., 2019; White, M.K., Epston, D.,1990), and abused women in conjunction with feminist approach (Allen, D, 2012). According to Madigan (2019), the story told by clients is ‘often one that adheres to specific “individual responsibility” for “their” problem and a desire to be “fixed”.’

In the interview video of Amanda, we also see that Dr. Wigg pointed out the socio-cultural value that Amanda carries as her responsibility, causes her sufferings in the current and past relationships. By externalizing the problem and exploring the influence on oneself, clients are removed from self-guilt or shame and empower with the motivation to change.

For a beginning therapist, the different types of questions in SFBT would be helpful in the intake interview on presenting the problem and understanding the desired outcome from the client. The exception and miracle questions are great ways to understand the other side of the story, which clients might not bring to the therapy session due to their current focus on the problem. It can also motivate clients by allowing them to exam their capabilities.

However, I would argue that the brief and solution-focused nature of SFBT might have its limitation on treating with persistent problems, such as substance abuse, personality disorders, or persistent mood disorders. On the other hand, narrative therapeutic approach sees individuals as composed by living and progressing multi-stories. I can see that narrative therapy would work perfectly in conjunction with the person-center approach. The process of externalizing and creating an alternative narrative, not only benefits clients to understand the influences of problems on themselves, but also to move towards the self-actualization goal. The unique technique of therapeutic letter writing in the narrative approach would be beneficial in building the relationships between clients and me, serves as an encouragement for them to progress, and the motivation for coming back to the therapy sessions.

Also published on Notion.

References

Allen, M. (2012). Narrative Therapy for Women Experiencing Domestic Violence: Supporting Women’s Transitions from Abuse to Safety. Philadelphia, U.S.A. & London, U.K.: Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Corey, G. (2017). /Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy: Student Manual (10th edition)./ Boston: Cengage Learning

Hsu, WS. & Wang, C.D.C. (2011). Integrating Asian Clients’ Filial Piety Beliefs into Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. International Journal for the Advance of Counselling, 33 (4), pp. 332–334.

Madigan, S. (2019). Narrative Therapy. Washington D.C., U.S.A.: American Psychological Association.

White, M.K., Epston, D. (1990). Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends. New York, U.S.A.: Norton.